Gordon Ramsay: Biography of Kitchen Nightmares Chef

VO: Rebecca Brayton
Born November 8th, 1966 in Glasgow, Scotland, Gordon Ramsay was the first chef from his native country to earn three Michelin stars. But even before that, Ramsay hoped for a career as a football player; unfortunately injuries thwarted that plan early on. He went on to study hotel management, and from there worked under some of the most famous chefs in Europe. Ramsay’s reputation for fiery outbursts started early, and he has since used that to become a television star. With successful shows, restaurants, cookbooks and more, Ramsay turned nightmares in the kitchen into an empire. In this video, WatchMojo.com learns more about the life and career of Gordon Ramsay.

Biography of Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay

This celebrity chef is known for his fiery outbursts in the kitchen. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be learning more about the life and career of Gordon Ramsay.

Early Years

Gordon James Ramsay was born November 8th, 1966 in Glasgow, Scotland, and was raised in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England. Ramsay showed promise as a football player in his youth, and was even pursued by the Scottish Premier League Glasgow Rangers. However, injuries dashed his hopes of a professional career by the time he was 19.

Apprenticeships

Ramsay then shifted gears and studied hotel management at college. After graduating in 1987, he supplemented his education by working as an apprentice for some of the most renowned chefs in Europe, including Marco Pierre White.

French Cuisine

Ramsay eventually decided French cuisine was the key to success in the culinary world. In the early 1990s, he worked under other world famous chefs in England and France to study this style.

Aubergine

In 1993, Ramsay returned to London and became head chef of the newly-opened restaurant, Aubergine. Within two years of his appointment, he was recognized as Newcomer of the Year by the influential Catey Awards. It wasn’t long before he released his first book, “Passion for Flavour,” and this helped raise his public profile further.

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

Even this early in his career, Ramsay was recognized for his temper and perfectionism. By 1997, Aubergine earned two Michelin stars. At this point in his professional life, Ramsay dreamed of owning his own restaurant. So, in 1998 he opened Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in the chic Chelsea region of London with help from his father-in-law, Chris Hutcheson. The development of this restaurant was filmed and ran as the Channel 4 documentary, “Boiling Point” in 1999. This was the first time television audiences were introduced to Ramsay and his temperamental personality.

Three Michelin Stars

Ramsay’s first restaurant became known as a destination for lovers of gourmet food, and eventually won three Michelin stars. In fact, Ramsay was the first Scotsman ever to win that honor.

Chef of the Year

Over the next few years, he continued expanding his empire with restaurants around the world, additional books, more Michelin stars and new awards, including Chef of the Year in 2000. That same year, a follow-up documentary called “Beyond Boiling Point” aired.

Adventures in Television

In 2001, Ramsay’s original Chelsea restaurant was voted the Top Restaurant in the United Kingdom. The chef also appeared on an episode of the TLC show “Faking It” to help a potential chef learn his craft. However, it was only in 2004 that he became a household name when he starred in two popular British television series: “Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares” and “Hell’s Kitchen.” The next year, he launched “The F Word” on UK television.

U.S. Success

Not long after, Ramsay joined the American reality television craze by launching U.S. versions of both “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Kitchen Nightmares” on Fox. Ramsay’s popularity in the United States encouraged him to begin opening restaurants stateside in 2006. That was also the year he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

Other Ventures

Ramsay’s empire and Gordon Ramsay Holdings Limited have only grown since then on the strength of more world-class restaurants, television appearances, books and even kitchenware.

Controversy

However, in 2009, rumors swirled that suggested his company was in financial trouble. He was embroiled in even more scandal the next year when Ramsay’s CEO and father-in-law Hutcheson left the position amid reports he stole money from the company. Around this time Ramsay was also forced to close or pull out of a few of his restaurants. Despite this, it is said that Ramsay’s net worth hovers around the $100 million range.

Legacy

Though Ramsay has been followed by controversy, legal issues and common celebrity gossip, it’s his penchant for fiery tirades and expletive-laced rants – in addition to his skills as a chef – that have made him a star around the world.